Fatal Deception: Part I by S.R. Burks Read Free Book Online Page B

happened. When I came to the house and looked back, I saw Deidra come from back there. It’s very bizarre.”
    “Really?” asked Blair. “Where is she anyway?” She slid her arm around her husband warmly and both stared out at the yard below.
    “I don’t know,” he said.
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
    Geri was just getting back from her morning jog, and entered the house through the kitchen. She closed the back door behind her, but in her haste, didn’t secure it. She continued to the bathroom, removed her jogging clothes and jumped in the shower. As she relaxed under the hot water, she thought of Marc. She’d been thinking of him all night and all morning. But soon her thoughts drifted to another person; someone who was very odd.
    Earlier, she’d been up on the hill watching the magazine crew from afar and got a glimpse of Deidra. That woman was a pain for sure. She remembered the pressure Deidra applied in the handshake they shared, and how she seemed to be very territorial with Marc. She even caught Deidra tensing up a few times. Geri got the feeling that Deidra had a temper you didn’t want to cross. She shook Deidra from her mind and her stirring thoughts immediately went back to Marc Caldwell.
     
    “ Let me go see if it’s okay first.” Marc said to Alondra when they parked in front of Geri’s house.
    Alondra stayed in the car while he knocked on the door. He waited for a time then knocked again. He knew she couldn’t be gone because she had no car. Receiving no answer, he decided to look around back to see if she was there. As he came around the house, he saw that the door was open and proceeded to call to her through the screen door only receiving silence.
    Marc suddenly became alarmed. He entered the house, looking around and calling her name without any response. He made it to the living room and noticed she still had some things unpacked, but everything else appears normal. But suddenly he heard a noise and looked down the hall. His heart stopped at first glance, not because Geri had emerged wrapped in nothing but a towel, but because she looked like someone else, someone more familiar. He blinked to clear his eyes, not believing what he saw.
    “Oh!” screamed Geri. Startled, she ran into her bedroom.
    Marc just stood still, feeling very awkward. Then Geri returned in her robe.
    “I’m so sorry,” said Marc. “I knocked a few times, then came around to the back and saw your door was open. When you didn’t answer my calls, I got worried. Marc tried to explain to her why he was standing in her living room uninvited, and still reeling from what he thought he saw.
    “Is there something I can help you with?” asked Geri, somewhat shyly. She was flushed and didn’t look up at him. She was too embarrassed.
    “Alondra took a liking to you, and she doesn’t do that with many folks. She wanted to come over and help you unpack. I told her I had to ask you first…”
    As he continued his explanation she looked up at him for the first time. Her demeanor had quickly changed. He noticed and didn’t know what to make of it.
    “Oh yes!” she replied. “I would like that. Where is she?”
    Geri went to the door and Marc noted how excited she’d become at the mention of his daughter.
    “Alondra, come in!” she called anxiously from the doorway.
    Alondra climbed out of the car and went inside. “Hi, Geri,” she said. “My Aunt Blair thought it would be neighborly to come help you since we hadn’t come by before… and I thought it would be fun. Is it okay?”
    “Of course it is,” said Geri.
    She looked over Alondra with such adoration. Marc slowly neared, observing Geri doting over his daughter, and thought it was harmless, but seemed a little strange, since they’d only just met. Then his eyes shot up to something in the distance that neither of the ladies noticed. He stared for several moments. What he’d seen had disappeared from sight.
    Deidra sped down the road toward the highway having